Improving child and family services in First Nations communities: Engagement 2016-2017

The engagement began in the fall of 2016 and will run through the summer of 2017.

What

Our first priority is the well-being of children. The Government of Canada is committed to taking concrete steps to completely transform the First Nations Child and Family Services Program to ensure we are meeting the needs of First Nation children and families.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) wants to hear from you on what is needed to best meet the needs of First Nations children and families on reserve.

Why

Renewing relationships with Indigenous peoples and reforming the First Nations Child and Family Services Program to better meet children's needs are top priorities for the Government of Canada. The over-representation of Indigenous children in care is a significant issue across Canada and the Government of Canada is working with partners to change this reality. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report also made a number of calls to action (PDF) in this area.

Who

The Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs has appointed Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux as the Minister's Special Representative (MSR). Between October 2016 and March 2017, the MSR held meetings with partners to discuss promising practices and short and long-term solutions. A summary report will be made available online.

INAC is reaching out to hear from:

First Nations youth, families, and communities

First Nations leadership

First Nations agencies/service providers including front-line workers

national and regional Indigenous organizations

child welfare advocates

provinces and Yukon

How

This engagement will be inclusive and includes:

regional meetings in provinces and the Yukon

an online survey for anyone to complete (closed in April 2017)

tri-partite technical tables

funding to Indigenous regional organizations to meet with communities and get their advice on what needs to change

a national advisory committee with representatives from the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

There are three ways to participate:

Attend a regional or national meeting (by invitation only for service providers, First Nation technical groups and First Nation communities and community members).

Send an email to request a meeting or to share your suggestions about engagement, or on what is needed for the First Nations Child and Family Services program to best meet the needs of children.